double quotation markFour senior Uruguay players \u2013 Rochet, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo\u200b Bentancur and Federico Valverde \u2013\u200b had requested a meeting with Bielsa\u200b before Friday\u2019s game to complain about training, which they said was so\u200b ferocious it had led to injuries. They also suggested a change of\u200b approach against Spain, playing in a low block and looking to counter.\u200b That, of course, is utterly antithetical to Bielsa, who not only denied\u200b their request but called a team meeting at which he addressed the\u200b players for 48 minutes, telling them that he intended to mirror Spain\u200b and explaining why he had brought injured but loyal players to the\u200b World Cup.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Summary<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what\u2019s going on in World Cup-land today \u2026<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has called on Gianni Infantino to \u201cstand up to\u201d the US after reiterating his belief that the co-hosts have treated his team \u201cvery unfairly\u201d<\/p>\n Belgium and Egypt sealed qualification from Group G ahead of Iran, who must wait to see if they progress from third place<\/p>\n Debutants Cape Verde booked their spot in the knockouts with a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia and will face Argentina next.<\/p>\n Marcelo Bielsa will leave his job as Uruguay coach after they were knocked out following defeat to Spain, saying he \u201chas not left anything\u201d to football in the country.<\/p>\n England take on Panama later today without the injured Reece James, who will miss at least two matches with a hamstirng injury.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Iran coach tells Infantino to “stand up to” co-hosts US Iran\u2019s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has said Fifa\u2019s president, Gianni Infantino, must \u201cstand up\u201d to the US after reiterating his belief that the co-hosts have treated his team \u201cvery unfairly\u201d.<\/p>\n Iran will qualify for the World Cup<\/a> knockout stage for the first time if results go their way in the next 24 hours, but after a dramatic draw against Egypt in Seattle, in which Shoja Khalilzadeh had a stoppage-time winner ruled offside and Saeid Ezatolah headed against the bar, they were left frustrated with more than just the result.<\/p>\n Infantino visited Iran\u2019s dressing room after their Group G opener against New Zealand, telling the squad \u201cyou are stronger than everything\u201d, but while Ghalenoei maintains Infantino has tried his utmost to help them, ultimately little has changed since the tournament began. The head coach previously described Iran as the \u201cmost oppressed\u201d team at the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Mr Infantino has tried his best to minimise the problems as much as possible but it was the host that wasn\u2019t very good to us,\u201d Ghalenoei said in his post-match press conference. \u201cI urge Fifa to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future. I hope Mr Infantino will actually stand up to such behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Transfer news: Fulham have signed teenage forward Jonah Kusi-Asare on a permanent deal after a promising loan spell last season. The 18-year-old Swede made 10 first-team appearances after joining on loan from Bayern Munich in September 2025 and he has now left the Bundesliga champions to sign a five-year contract at Craven Cottage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Marc Gu\u00e9hi insists he was fine with being left out of England\u2019s opening World Cup<\/a> clash against Croatia but is ready to help the team secure top spot in Group L. Gu\u00e9hi was left on the bench as Thomas Tuchel paired John Stones and Ezri Konsa together for the 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas, but he came into the side for Tuesday\u2019s 0-0 draw with Ghana.<\/p>\n The Manchester City defender looks set to keep his spot for the group finale in New Jersey later today and is ready to play any role asked of him by Tuchel.<\/p>\n Asked if it was hard to be left out, he replied: \u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t difficult. I said before that, to be honest, it didn\u2019t really matter who played. As long as the team does well, we\u2019re all here for one goal. We all know what that is. So, as long as the team does well, it\u2019s the most important thing. But I\u2019m glad to have been given the opportunity last game to help the team, and I\u2019ll take whatever role I\u2019m given.\u201d PA Media<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Continental breakdown: Let\u2019s have a look at how each confederation has fared with the group stage coming to a close \u2026<\/p>\n Europe (Uefa)<\/p>\n Through to last 32 \u2013 11\/16 so far (plus maybe Austria, Croatia and Scotland)<\/p>\n Eliminated \u2013 2\/16 so far (Czechia and Turkey)<\/p>\n Qualification rate \u2013 69-88%<\/p>\n South America (Conmebol)<\/p>\n Through to last 32 \u2013 5\/6 confirmed<\/p>\n Eliminated \u2013 1\/6 (Uruguay)<\/p>\n Qualification rate \u2013 83%<\/p>\n Africa (Caf)<\/p>\n Through to last 32 \u2013 6\/10 so far (plus maybe Algeria, DR Congo, and Senegal)<\/p>\n Eliminated \u2013 1\/10 so far (Tunisia)<\/p>\n Qualification rate \u2013 60-90%<\/p>\n Asia (AFC)<\/p>\n Through to last 32 \u2013 2\/9 so far (plus maybe Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan)<\/p>\n Eliminated \u2013 4\/9 so far (Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)<\/p>\n Qualification rate \u2013 22-55%<\/p>\n Oceania (OFC)<\/p>\n It\u2019s starting to look rather bleak for the Asian sides in this tournament.<\/p>\n Qatar, Saudi, Jordan have all been eliminated. Uzbekistan are as good as out as they would need to beat DR Congo by 8 to have a chance of advancing.<\/p>\n Iran and Korea both finished 3rd in the groups but both are looking increasingly unlikely to get through due to their goal differences.<\/p>\n It looks likely that only Japan and Australia will advance. Unfortunately for Japan they have a terrible draw in the next round against Brazil. Australia will also start underdogs against Egypt.<\/p>\n Seems there is a very real possibility that no team from the Asian confederation will make it through to the R16.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.55 EDT<\/p>\n Speaking of Gij\u00f3n, Algeria are seeking to get one over on Austria for the way they were dumped out of the 1982 World Cup<\/a>. Austria and West Germany played out a mutually beneficial result at El Molin\u00f3n that meant they both progressed at Algeria\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n Ironically Algeria and Austria can both qualify for the last 32 if they play out a draw in Group J later.<\/p>\n Maher Mezahi breaks down what this game means:<\/p>\n double quotation markA generational faultline runs through how Algerians are approaching Saturday night\u2019s fixture in Kansas City (a 3am BST Sunday kick-off). For supporters old enough to remember 1982, eliminating Austria would carry a satisfaction far beyond three points. For younger fans, the grievance is inherited and less raw.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rogorn goes in two-footed on the 64-team World Cup<\/a> naysayers \u2026<\/p>\n I\u2019m OK with a 32-team World cup, but here are some reasons in favour of a 64-team World Cup:<\/p>\n -More teams and fans taking part. This is the number 1 reason some people are against the enlargement, but I think it\u2019s the number 1 reason to do it. If you support a nation that doesn\u2019t qualify all the time, you know how it feels.<\/p>\n -It\u2019s never going back down to 32, and no-one likes 48. While 48 (or 24 in the Euros) does produce some drama of its own through the uncertainty of the third-place qualifiers, most people would happily go without it. Plus, there is a simple way to all but guarantee that every match matters in an \u201conly the top 2 go through\u201d setting.<\/p>\n -The 64-team tournament wouldn\u2019t be any longer than it is right now with 48. It would have a few more matches in the group stage, for a total of 128 games, compared to 104 now, and it would mean 6 games a day, but no team would play more than 8 games, all told. In fact, 32 teams would play 3 games only, 16 would play 4, 8 would play 5, 4 would play 6 and only the four semifinalists would play 8 (assuming we keep the third-place match).<\/p>\n -There are at least 64 competitive teams in the world. Just have a look at the top 64 in the FIFA rankings and see who wouldn\u2019t belong in the tournament. The very rarefied top few can still outclass most others, but that has always been the case throughout history. Besides, if anyone has been an embarrassment in the 2026 WC it hasn\u2019t been Cape Verde or Haiti. Who had Tunisia to concede five in a game and 12 in 3, or Spain to draw a blank against Cape Verde? Quality, you say? Make a list of the worst matches of this tournament (or any other) and then let\u2019s see what illustrious names they feature. Decades of watching football has taught us that no-one knows how \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad\u201d any next game featuring any teams of any \u201cquality\u201d is going to be.<\/p>\n -\u201cBloated\u201d? Just pick and choose your games, the same you do during the club season. Some people watch Cambridge United, some people watch Real Oviedo, some people watch Sunderland, some people watch Inter Milan, most people don\u2019t watch any of them. And they\u2019re fine. The club season is the definition of bloated! And we manage to get through it. I do like watching EVERY game of a World Cup and Euros, and I have done it for decades. But my individual capacity for watching footie should not be the yardstick to measure how many hundreds of players and millions of fans are left out of the party. In fact, you\u2019re probably picking and choosing your games already for this very World Cup.<\/p>\n -The next World Cup, 2030, with six hosts already chosen, would be ideal for 64 teams. With 64 teams playing, 16 groups of 4 would be needed, so, say Uruguay gets to host 2 whole groups, Paraguay 2, Argentina 2, Morocco 3, Portugal 3, Spain 4. The South American groups start first, and their advantage of having extra days before the knockout stage starts would be balanced by their need to use that time to fly to Europe\/Africa for the remainder of the tournament, from the round of 32 on. This would also remedy the pitiful current decision by FIFA that hosting three matches in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina counts as CONMEBOL hosting a World Cup. 2034 could be a problem for Saudi Arabia on its own, and this might be why Gianni is still treading gingerly, because the Saudis might not want to have to share their tournament with anyone else if they can\u2019t cope with 64.<\/p>\n -After that, most countries would not be able to host a 64 on their own, but co-hosting is well established now, and rotation could get some imagination too. How about a Mediterranean World Cup across Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, hosting two groups each, for example, or a CONCACAF-CONMEBOL effort all the way from Canada to Chile? Other confederations could do this too.<\/p>\n -Carbon footprint, I hear you say? Just stop moving teams around for every game. Spreading the 2021 Euros around the whole continent was a great idea, but UEFA mangled the execution badly by having teams jet to and fro all the time. For every group, find two stadia which are reasonably close to one another (Gij\u00f3n and Oviedo, for example, at Spain ’82, or Vienna and Budapest in continental terms) and play the whole group phase there only. Teams would be better rested from less travel, fans could plan a whole week-long stay for the duration of the group stages at least, then close un-needed venues gradually to converge on just four or five grounds for the latter stages.<\/p>\n Two weeks in Gij\u00f3n and Oviedo sounds idyllic to me. It\u2019s a shame neither are due to host in 2030.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Obviously the best third-place teams is nothing new in tournament football \u2013 it\u2019s been in place at recent Euros and Afcons. But when the World Cup<\/a> is this bloated and teams are given such short notice about who they will face in the next round (Paraguay found out just hours ago that they are playing Germany on Monday; as unlikely as it is, Scotland and their fans might have to trek to Mexico City on Tuesday), you\u2019d think Fifa would have a rethink.<\/p>\n That rethink looks inevitable though \u2026 64 teams for 2030. Anyone in favour?<\/p>\n 32 teams split into 8 groups of 4. 2 progress from the group to the knockout stages, 2 are eliminated without dangling in limbo. Please.<\/p>\n Careful. A 64 team wc with top 2 going through gets you to the same stage this WC is about to get to, a knockout stage with one extra round and no limbo.<\/p>\n I mean, thats only 4 more groups, right? incoming Infantino suggestion right there to counter your ‘limbo’ issue.<\/p>\n I think of this as the World Cup \u2018finals\u2019. Thanks Taha. There\u2019s lots of Scotland talk BTL \u2026<\/p>\n Just pack your bags Scotland. It was fun from a fan point of view. And we owe Clarke some gratitude. But, for me, having watched them in world cups since 1974, this is the worst I have felt about the team. The excellent Cape Verde result just emphasizes how crap the players and manager have been. I don’t want to sound like Ewan Murray but I think it’s the only conclusion.<\/p>\n The amazing thing about the Scotland situation from my point of view is even with the first Brazilian goal the other night, that was them done.<\/p>\n All those pre-tournament simulations about minus one being fine, minus two probably being OK, simply ignored that when one team (ie. Ecuador) needs a result and another (ie. Germany) don’t, they usually get it. Or that when both teams (Australia and Paraguay) need the same result, that’s what’ll transpire. Or that teams playing later in the final round would know exactly what they needed… and like Senegal yesterday, get it.<\/p>\n I think it’ll ease the pressure on Clarke – because the argument has already become “so we lost to Morocco and Brazil, what did anyone expect?” Even if they’d scored two more against Haiti, they’d still have gone out. Cue the SFA having yet another excuse to hide behind, do and learn precisely nothing… and for most of Scottish football to instantly return to obsessing over the Old Firm.<\/p>\n The bit I’m confused with is why so many Scots are being so down on the team.<\/p>\n We lost to Brazil and Morocco. The 5th and 6th ranked teams in the world.<\/p>\n It would have been an equivalent shock for Haiti to beat us, as for us to beat either of these teams.<\/p>\n Not entirely sure how with 12 groups we got one with 2 of the teams in the top 6 in the world.<\/p>\n Time for Billy Munday to hop on. I\u2019ll see you all again in a few hours.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In Group K Portugal need a win against Colombia to finish top. Four points is enough to get through as a third-placed team, so DR Congo will advance should they beat Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n Colombia v Portugal, Miami \u2013 7.30pm local time, Sunday 12.30am BST<\/p>\n DR Congo v Uzbekistan, Atlanta \u2013 same time<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.59 EDT<\/p>\n Why not warm up for England\u2019s World Cup<\/a> clash with England\u2019s Test match? This\u2019ll end up as a five-day humdinger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Elliot Anderson is another off the Wallsend Boys production line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Who\u2019s up today? We go to Group L first, with England and Ghana already through \u2013 though Croatia could end up first with a victory and a point for Panama against Thomas Tuchel\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Panama v England, New Jersey \u2013 5pm local time, 10pm BST <\/p>\n Croatia v Ghana, Philadelphia \u2013 same time<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n double quotation markFollowing the Department of Homeland Security on social media is a bit like wandering through a casino at 4am. Sooner or later, you\u2019ll see something that makes you go: How did we get here?<\/p>\n There was one of those moments earlier this month. Days after the US opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-1 romp over Paraguay, DHS marked the occasion by posting an image of Chris Richards, Sergi\u00f1o Dest and Folarin Balogun exulting beneath the headline \u201cDEFEND THE HOMELAND\u201d and the caption \u201cOUR SOIL\u201d.<\/p>\n The irony of the message \u2013 posted on the emancipation holiday Juneteenth, of all days \u2013 was unmissable. The same department that turned back a leading referee from Somalia<\/a>, that has kept Iran\u2019s players on a day-to-day visa footing<\/a> in this tournament, that has in effect tried to sabotage the conditions under which this World Cup takes place, now finds itself reveling in it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The latest World Cup<\/a> Daily is up \u2013 get it in your ears.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Confirmed last 32 matches so far<\/p>\n Here are the confirmed last-32 clashes. I\u2019m liking the look of Netherlands-Morocco and Brazil-Japan.<\/p>\n England, as it stands, will face Senegal, who they beat in the last 16 in Qatar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EDT<\/p>\n Our US team were busy with your questions on Thursday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What are Scotland\u2019s chances of qualifying for the next round? Opta\u2019s supercomputer<\/a> reckons they\u2019ve got a 0.05% shot.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amid all the joy, there\u2019s the treatment of Iran. They were denied permission to stay in Seattle after their draw against Egypt, reports Ben Fisher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve got to have another look at Cape Verde\u2019s celebrations.<\/p>\n Photograph: Leo Barrilari\/SPP\/Shutterstock Photograph: Maria Lysaker\/IMAGN IMAGES\/Reuters Photograph: Lynn Pennington\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock Photograph: Sam Wasson\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n What\u2019s that? You want some #OnThisDay #WorldCup #Content? Well, it\u2019s been eight years since South Korea knocked out Germany, the defending champions, in the group stage.<\/p>\n Jonathan Wilson was there:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis, then, is how the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. There are certain events so apocalyptic that it feels they cannot just happen. They should be signalled beneath thunderous skies as owls catch falcons and horses turn and eat themselves. At the very least there should be a sense of fury, of thwarted effort, of energies exhausted. And yet Germany went out of the World Cup<\/a> in the first round for the first time in 80 years on a pleasantly sunny afternoon with barely a flicker of resistance. There was no Sturm. There was no Drang.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So who comes in for Reece James, out of England\u2019s clash with Panama and the last-32 tie, too? Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Djed Spence and Trevoh Chalobah are all options for Thomas Tuchel to consider.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The views from North America:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran have copied Cape Verde with three draws \u2026 but they thought they\u2019d won it against Egypt. Their future at the tournament remains uncertain.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Marcelo Bielsa gives it straight. Uruguay have failed to make it past the group stage for the second World Cup<\/a> in a row.<\/p>\n double quotation markI have not left anything to Uruguayan football. A coach who has been in a country for three years and not got results cannot say he has made a contribution. Fourth place in the qualifiers has no value and nor does third at the Copa Am\u00e9rica and there is no need to even define this performance [at the World Cup]. My time doesn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Even if Panama pull off an all-timer of an upset, England are through. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Cape Verde\u2019s head coach, Bubista, reflects on his side\u2019s achievement.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have shown that nothing is impossible. We have represented our country but we also represent Africa and small countries around the world.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Winning is overrated. Cape Verde have got the love of the neutrals and \u2013 crucially \u2013 a place in the last 32 by drawing all three of their group games. That\u2019s right, the nation with a population of just over 500,000 are through to the knockouts<\/a> with a second-placed finish, a remarkable feat by the debutants. Up next? Leo Messi and his mates. It\u2019s the story of the tournament. We\u2019ll talk about that and all of the other results from last night, and look at what\u2019s to come. It never stops.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782560290_203_Ben_Fisher.png\")
Ben Fisher<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/110359205.gif\")
<\/a>Saudi Arabia were the fourth Asian nation to be knocked out \u2013 the most of any confederation so far. Photograph: Pedro Nunes\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/11916551.png\")
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Anything more than 32 teams just feels like glorified qualifying to me. All of these games and the reduced jeopardy in the group stages is diluting it – for me at least. Infantino will spin anything out for revenue.<\/p>\n<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/101873854.gif\")
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